Field Scientist - 32356 in Reading

Field Scientist – 32356

Location: DEFRA GRP EA CAVERSHAM LAKES DEPOT, RG4 9RA, Reading, South East.

Salary: £34,320 minimum

Job type: Permanent – Staff Grade 4, Full Time

Working Pattern: Full Time

Closing Date: 31/12/2025

Job Description

Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you! At the Environment Agency we work to create a better place for people and wildlife. We are an evidence‑based organisation and we monitor the environment to enable us to make informed decisions.

We are looking for a Field Scientist – Field Instrumentation Engineer with knowledge/interest in instrumentation and telemetry to undertake the commissioning, maintenance and development of a wide range of water‑quality monitoring equipment and associated infrastructure. You will also be responsible for ensuring that all monitoring systems are installed, commissioned and operated in accordance with the Agency\’s code of practice for health and safety.

The team – the National Water Quality Instrumentation Service – provides support to all instrument‑based water‑quality monitoring activities undertaken across the Agency. We deliver a vital service that underpins the Environment Agency\’s regulatory responsibilities and play a central role in the development and expansion of real‑time water‑quality monitoring under the 2021 Environment Act. The team also supports a wide range of citizen science and stakeholder partnerships.

Essential Experience

• Instrumentation
• Relevant field experience
• Knowledge of electrical systems for instrumentation, including cabling, wiring methods, control circuits
• Actively forming and maintaining links with customers
• Demonstrated strong problem‑solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Successful delivery of training to others
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and forge strong relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills – required for liaising with local, national and external customers
• Self‑driven and determined to succeed
• Knowledge of water‑quality instrumentation and data
• Full UK driving licence and a full UK driving licence

Desirable Experience

• Understanding of the Environment Agency\’s water‑quality systems, community and customers

Contact and Additional Information

The role will be based at Caversham Lakes, Reading. Frequent and sometimes unscheduled travel across the Agency is required to access remote sites. Full UK driving licence is mandatory.

Benefits include annual leave starting at 25 days and an award‑winning Pension Fund. The post may also involve incident role responsibilities, which could attract additional payment. Training and alternative working arrangements will be available.

For additional information please contact frances.houston@environment‑agency.gov.uk.

Face‑to‑face interviews week commencing 05/01/26 & 12/01/26.

Competencies

Communicates Effectively: Describe how you have communicated a complex technical challenge or initiative to a non‑technical audience to secure support and funding.

Changing and Improving: Provide an example when you identified and implemented the introduction of new innovative technology to deliver improvements in quality and efficiency.

Achieves Results: Provide an example of a time you delivered a successful piece of work in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles.

Legal and Additional Statements

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Flexible working, job sharing and a Guaranteed Interview Policy for candidates with a disability are available.

As a non‑departmental public body, the Agency cannot engage directly with the market; for support supplier opportunities please visit our framework information site.

Artificial intelligence may be used to support your application, but all statements must be truthful and factually accurate. Plagiarism or misrepresented AI output may lead to withdrawal of the application.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Research, Analyst and Information Technology. Industries: Newspaper Publishing.